Spiceworks Eyes Skunkworks, Keeps Tabs on Cloud

Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) may be the concern du jour — what with employees’ devices running any old app they please — but what about the cloud creep into the workplace via that skunkworks project?

Spiceworks, a social network for IT management, has launched new tools to detect cloud services running on company networks.

In addition to tracking down skunkworks projects that can be a threat, it also aids in aggregating cloud licenses to get better volume discounts, the company says.

With Spiceworks 6.0, IT pros can automatically scan their networks more than 40 popular cloud services “to see exactly which cloud services are in use and by whom, providing an extra layer of control over sensitive resources,” the company said in a press release on Thursday.

It could be the end of clandestine cloud operations, or a way to earn Brownie points with the CIO by saving on licensing. Is this something you welcome, IT folks?